Globba plant named `Ruby Queen`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of a Globba hybrid characterized by dark pink bracts and cranberry colored bracteoles as within the inflorescence. The foliage displays reddish underleaves.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is co-pending with U.S. Plant patent application Ser. Nos. 09/001,818, 09/002,238, and 09/002,231 drawn to cultivars `Blushing Maiden`, `Purest Angel`, and `Pristina Pink`, respectively. Being of the same Genus and species, all four cultivars demonstrate similar growth habits and life cycles. The plants are distinct, one from the other, in their bract color; the instant cultivar exhibiting persistent darker pink bracts compared to the white and pink two-tone bracts of `Blushing Maiden`, the white bracts of `Purest Angel`, and the lighter pink bracts of `Pristina Pink`.

BACKGROUND

This new Globba `Ruby Queen` was selected by applicants from the seedling progeny from a cross of unknown parents of Globba winitii by applicants at Jungle Jewels, Hi., Kurtistown, Hi., USA. This particular seedling was selected by the applicants in 1994 for propagation and testing because of the distinctive dark pink bracts and cranberry colored bracteoles and reddish underleaves. The selected plant was propagated asexually by cuttings and tissue culture and successive generations maintained the unique features of this new variety. Tissue culture was performed in a lab in Apopka, Fla. The plant was then grown to maturity in greenhouses in Kurtistown, near Hilo, Hi.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

`Ruby Queen` is a low growing deciduous herbaceous perennial with multiple showy pendulous inflorescences. The life cycle of this variety consists of numerous reed like leafy stems emerging in April-May with vigorous growth until flowering commences from July through November with persistent dark pink bracts and cranberry colored bracteoles in December complete foliar senescence will proceed with a rest period until the following growing season, unless supplemental lighting is applied, therefore extending the flowering period.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs show:

FIG. 1. Depicts the plant form and size and the display of inflorescence.

FIG. 2. Depicts a side view of a fully open inflorescence depicting bract and leaf color of `Ruby Queen`, having flowers extending out of four of the corollas.

The colors are as nearly true as reasonably possible in color illustrations of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following botanical description color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. Descriptions are based on observations made during 1996 of randomly selected well fertilized clones, grown from fully developed rhizomes, which will yield maximum height and maturity of this variety. `Ruby Queen` was grown in greenhouse conditions in Kurtistown, Hi. under 55% shaded nursery conditions.

Name: `Ruby Queen`.

Botanical name: Globba winitii.

Family: Zingiberaceae.

Commercial use: Potted flowering ornamental plant.

Botanical description: Perennial herb with slender fleshy rhizome, fibrous roots and reed-like leafy stems. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, attenuate at base, alternate. The top two terminate leaves per pseudostem appear petioled, while the lower leaves are sheathed and appear more sessile in nature. Inflorescence a pendulous terminal raceme, bracts showy; flowers born in cincinni on slender branchlets arising from axils of bracts; bracteoles ovate and open to base; calyx funnelform, 3-lobed; corolla exceeding calyx; 3 petals, small subequal, posterior petal spurred; lip fused into tube with stamen above attachment of lateral staminodes and petals, 2 lobed deflexed; staminodes petaloid, equal or exceeding petals; 1 fertile stamen, filament long and curved, anther with two small triangular appendages on each side; ovary 1 celled with several ovules. The number of bracts and bracteoles per inflorescence vary with the maturity of the cultivar. An immature cultivar, during the flowering period of its second growing season, can be expected to exhibit, on average, between 5 and 12 bracts per inflorescence as well as between 5 and 12 bracteoles per inflorescence. A mature cultivar, during the flowering period of its third and subsequent growing seasons, may exhibit, on average, between 12 and 20 bracts per inflorescence and between 12 and 20 bracteoles per inflorescence. Flowers last a single day. On average, 6 to 8 actual flowers are produced per branchlet in cincinni each growing season. In a given growing season, an immature plant may exhibit anywhere from 35 to 84 flowers per inflorescence, while a mature plant exhibits from 84 to 140 flowers per inflorescence. Fruit; a small dehiscent capsule with arillate seed with hemispherical protruberances on the outer exocarp.

Plant Characteristics:

Average mature height.--37 cm.

Average mature spread.--65 cm.

Leaf attitude.--Arching.

Leaf length.--13.5-15 cm.

Leaf width.--4.5-6 cm.

Leaf color (surface and midrib).--Upper: Green 131A and greyed purple group blended. Midrib: Red purple 59A. Leaf margin: A fine pin line of red purple 59A. Lower: Greyed purple 187B and green group blended.

Leaf texture.--Smooth.

Leaf shape.--Elliptic lanceolate.

Flowering season.--July through November.

Inflorescence overall length.--15-17 cm.

Bract basal (largest).--3.7 cm×2.4 cm.

Bract apical (smallest).--0.6 cm×0.6 cm.

Bract color.--Red purple 70A.

Bracteoles color.--Red purple 59A.

Raceme and raceme branchlets.--Greyed purple 187A.

Flower overall height.--2.2 cm.

Anther with appendages width.--0.5 cm.

Stamen length.--1.5 cm.

Flower color.--Yellow orange 17B.

Dorsal petal.--Infused red purple 59B.

Disease resistance.--It is not known whether the instant cultivar exhibits special resistance to diseases typical of Globba. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Globba plant named `Ruby Queen`, substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by the unique combination of dark pink bracts with cranberry colored bracteoles and reddish underleaves along with its profuse flowering habit. 